John Henry Smith eBook

A woman may refuse a man with words, and he be justified
in declining to accept the implied rejection, but
there is no appeal from the silent decision which
leaps from the heart.

So long as no message comes back unopened keep on
sending them. You are justified in assuming that
they have been read and are being entertained.
The time will come, John Henry, when you will get your
answer. If it is against you, accept it with the
best grace you can command. Do not be the fool
to think her lips will veto her heart.

If, on the contrary, there comes the glad day when
over the throbbing unseen wire there comes a telepagram
sounding the letters “Y-E-S,” proceed
with the sweet formality of a verbal avowal of your
love, and you will not be disappointed.

Smile if you will, John Henry Smith, you know I have
told the truth.

We have sent a few of these messages to Miss Harding,
and thus far none have been returned unopened.
As you say, John Henry, they have been very timid
ones, and possibly are so vague she does not think
them worth even a decided negative. We will send
more emphatic ones; not too emphatic, mind you, but
couched in symbols which cannot be misunderstood.

That is our best plan, John Henry Smith, don’t
you think so? I am glad we agree at last.
As yet nothing has happened of a character positively
discouraging.

Carter? I wish you would not mention his name.
From this on we will ignore Carter.

I intended to write of our automobile trip, but the
hour is late and I must postpone it until some other
time. Good night, John Henry Smith!

ENTRY NO. XV

THE AUTO AND THE BULL

I started to tear out what I wrote last night, but
on second thought will let it remain. Its perusal
in future years may amuse me. I will now resume
the trail of Woodvale happenings.

The touring car won from her father by Miss Harding
is a massive and beautiful machine. Luckily I
am familiar with the mechanism of this particular
make, and, as a consequence, am called in for advice
when any trifling question arises. Harding scorns
a professional chauffeur.

“Next to running one of these road engines,”
he declares, “the most fun is in pulling them
apart to see how they are made. I would as soon
hire a man to eat for me as to shawf one of these
choo-choo cars.”

Shortly after the big machine arrived Mr. Harding
received a letter from a gentleman named Wilson, who
is spending the summer at the Oak Cliff Golf and Country
Club. Wilson challenged him to come to Oak Cliff
and play golf, and to bring his family and a party
of friends with him. Harding read the letter
and laughed.

“Here’s my chance to win a game,”
he declared. “I can’t beat the Kid,
but I’ll put it all over Wilson, you see if I
don’t.”